NY Jets: 2020 is a make or break year for Jamal Adams

NY Jets’ safety Jamal Adams faces a make or break season in 2020 given his ongoing extension talks.

The NY Jets got themselves a star by picking Jamal Adams with the sixth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. But Adams now finds himself facing a make-or-break season in 2020.

Adams will be entering his fourth season in the NFL. The former LSU Tiger has proven to be one of the best safeties in all of football, if not the best.

Adams was named as a second-team All-Pro in 2018 and a first-team All-Pro this past season. However, despite his success on the field, his time with the Jets hasn’t been perfect.

This past season after the trading deadline, Adams publicly called out Jets general manager Joe Douglas for listening to trade offers involving the star safety. Things have quieted down since then, but we can’t definitively say that Adams will be a Jet for life.

Adams has still has not received a long-term deal from the team despite being eligible for a contract extension. The idea of holding out has already been brought up due to his current contract.

The 24-year-old wants to be the highest-paid safety in football, which is what he deserves. However, the timing of a possible extension remains a contentious issue given the uncertain nature surrounding the salary cap situation.

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Moreover, safety is widely viewed as one of the least important positions in all of football which could make the Jets unwilling to give Adams the money he might desire.

Jamal Adams will have to prove his value to the NY Jets in 2020.

Adams isn’t the only safety on the Jets looking for a new contract. Marcus Maye is scheduled to be a free agent after this season. Will the Jets be willing to pay two players at a position that universally isn’t deemed an essential part of a football team?

Additionally, the team drafting Ashtyn Davis in the third round in April’s draft gives them more options at safety. If the Jets believe that Maye is 70 percent of the player Adams is, could they keep Maye over Adams because of the amount of money they’d save?

That seems unlikely especially given that neither Maye or Davis fills Adams’ role, but who knows.

Adams will have the chance to show his value this season. The Jets are slated to face a plethora of talented tight ends this season in Travis Kelce, Noah Fant, Hunter Henry, Darren Waller, George Kittle, Greg Olsen, and the Browns duo of David Njoku and Austin Hooper.

Adams will likely be matched up against most of these players this season and his performance could determine the outcome of some games this season.

Jamal Adams is a very dynamic player who has become the best player on the Jets. However, if the team fails to win and Adams doesn’t make progress individually, Joe Douglas might not give him the money he’s seeking.

What are you expecting from the star safety this season?

NY Jets’ safety Jamal Adams faces a make or break season in 2020 given his ongoing extension talks.

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Jamal Adams will have to prove his value to the NY Jets in 2020.

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